Corn-planter.



Patented Nov. 26, mm.

w. s. BBOMLEY. CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed Mar. 19, 1901.

2 Sheets-Shem I.

I QNo Model.)

illl illz'a 222 GB?!) m lfy No. 687,673. Patented Nov; 26, I91". r W. G. BROMLEY.

- CORN PLANTER. (Ainplicatioz; filed Mar. 19, 1901.;

2 Shank-Sheet 2. v

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Ursula.

WILLIAM GRANT BROMLEY, OF HARTHEGIG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CORNvPLANTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 687,673, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed March 19,1901. Serial No. 51.875. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harthegig, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Corn-Planters; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates tovcertain improvements in planters, and more particularly to improvements in what are generally known as walking-planters adapted for planting corn or the like in hills properly arranged in rows.

An object of my invention is to provide a wireless check-row corn-planter exceedingly simple, strong, durable, and economical in construction and efiective and accurate in action.

, ping mechanism, including a billing-valve positively operated at fixed intervals through the mediu m of actuating means from the axle, including means rigid with the axle, and to provide the wheels on said axle with markers to accurately mark the ground opposite each hill of corn planted.

A further object of my invention is to provide certain improvements in the details of construction of walking corn-planters whereby the general efiiciency thereof is increased.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations or in arrangements of parts, as more fully and particularly described and pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, which show an example of a construction within the spirit and scope of my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of a planter, parts being broken away to show various structures. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the seedbox, the dropping-tube, and through the axle, showing in elevation the trip-lever and the trip-striker carried by the axle. Fig. 3 is a corresponding view showing the axlestriker in the act of swinging the trip-lever, the valve being shown open and the slide drawn to its limit of rearward movement to receive its charge of corn. Fig. 4 illustrates Be it known that 1, WILLIAM GRANT BRoM-.

the details of the pivoted toe or finger of the trip-lever. Fig. 5 illustrates the details of the front caster-wheel adjustment.

In the drawings, a is the rigid horizontal main frame, which can be of any suitable or 'usual construction, although in the drawings y the nose a, deflected up at the front end of the frame to receive the draft attachments, such as a clevis.

0 represents theupwardly and rearwardly extending handles fixed to the rear end of the frame.

0 is the axle, arranged transversely at the rear of the frame and mounted to turn in suitable boxes fixed to the frame.

cl represents the two wheels rigidly secured to the axle which rotates therewith. The axle usually projects some distance on each side of the frame, and the wheels are fixed the distance apart at which it is desired to locate the rows of corn-hills. For instance, I have found it convenientto locate the wheels on the axle three feet six inches apart, so that the hills of corn will be planted in rows three feet six inches apart,.as hereinafter set forth, although my invention is not so limited.

01' represents the markers, rigid with and projecting radially from the tread or rim of each wheel. I usually provide each wheel with two diametrically opposite markers correspondingly arranged on each wheel-that is, so that corresponding markers of the wheels will strike the ground at the same time. Each marker can be formed by a flat or tapered rigid metal projection, spud, or spade shaped blade. However, I do not wish to limit my invention to the number of markers employed, as that will depend on the arrangement of actuating devices for the seeddropping mechanism.

6 is the seedbox, of any suitable or ordinary construction, secured on the frame a distance in advance of the axle, andfis the rigid dropping-tube depending from the bottom of the seedbox and arranged so that its lower discharge end moves close above the surface of the soil in the furrow opened by the opener g, arranged in advance of the dropping-tube and carried by a suitable standard secured to the front portion of the frame. Any suitable form or construction of opener can be employed; also, any suitable form or arrangement of coverer devices can be employed to close the furrow behind the dropping-tube. As an example of what might be used for this purpose I show two adjustable coverer-blades it, carried by standards secured to the frame.

. 2' is the horizontally-disposed reciprocating dropping-slide on the bottom orfloor of the seedbox and passing and freely movable through the box from front to rear and projecting'in front and in rear of the box. This seed or dropping slide has the seed pocket or opening t" formed vertically and transversely therethrough. The front portion of the floor of the seedbox is formed with the vertical dropping or discharge opening 6, extending through the floor and opening into the upper end of the dropping-tube. This opening 6' is beneath that portion of the bottom which is covered by a hood or inclined partition 0 in the seedbox, on which the corn rests and down which the corn slides to the front portion of the slide on which the corn in the box rests. The discharge-opening e is located in the bottom of the hopper in the path of the seed-pocket i and is adapted to register therewith when the slide reaches its limit of forward movement, so that the grain in said pocket can drop through opening 6 into the dropping-tube. It is obvious that when the slide moves rearward and its seedpocket moves from under the hood or parti tion 6 the corn for one hill will drop into the seed-pocket. Abrushj, attached to the front end of the said partition 6, bears on the upper face of the slide and sweeps the surplus corn from the slide and pocket therein.

A suitable device is provided to yieldingly hold the slide at its limit of forward movement. As an example of what might be employed for this purpose I show a retractive coiled spring k, at one end attached to the frame and at its rear end coupled to the front Mend of the slide, so that the slide is drawn rearwardly against the tension of said spring.

A dropping or hilling valve is provided to normally close the lower end of the drop ping-tube. As shown, this valve consists of a flat vertically-swinging plate arranged in front of the tube and between its ends fulcrumed at 70 toa bracket extending forwardly from the tube, so that the valve extends downwardly and rearwardly from its fulcrum and intersects at an angle the vertical plane in which the tube is located. The valve closes against the lower or otherwise open end of the tube, which is usually formed or cut off at an angle about as shown to receive said valve and permit the same to close the tube against discharge of corn, permitting the corn dropped into the tube to rest on the inclined face of the valve. When the upper end of the Valve is moved toward the tube, the lower end thereof will move forwardly away from the lower end of the tube and the corn resting thereon will drop into the furrow properly bunched to form the hill.

Suitable mechanism is provided to intermittingly operate the slide and valve, so that when the slide is moving to receive its charge of corn the valve will open and drop the corn to form the hill, and when the slide drops its charge of corn into the tube the valve will be closed to receive and bunch said charge in readiness to drop the same into the furrow at the next operation. To this end I show an angle or bell-crank trip-lever Z arranged behind the dropping-tube and fulcrumed at Z to a bracket or projection extending rearwardly from said tube, so that said lever swings in a vertical plane. The vertical or upright arm of the lever is loosely coupled to the rear end of the seed-slide in any suitable manner to actuate the slide against the ten sion of its spring. I show the upper end of said lever projecting loosely through an opening in the rear end of the slide and have found by experience that this is an exceedingly simple and effective manner of effecting the coupling. The upper arm of said lever Z is also connected to actuate the tube-valve. For this purpose I show the rod connection 70 extending from the upper end of said valve to the said upper arm of the lever, so arranged that when said arm of the lever swings rearwardly, and thereby carries the seed-slide rearwardly,the valve will be swung to open the tube, and when under the slide and lever are returned to their normal positions by the slid e-spring the valve will belikewise returned to its normal closed position, the arrangement being such that the valve reaches its normal closed position before the slide reaches the limit of forward movement, and consequently before the corn is discharged therefrom into the tube. The lower arm of said trip-lever projects rearwardly in the direction of the axle located in rear thereof, and a suitable striker or trip mechanism is provided, revolving with the axle, to intermittingly strike said arm of the trip-lever and depress the same and then permit the lever to fly back to its normal position. For instance, I show 'a bar m arranged at right angles to the axle and at its center secured rigidly to the axle so as to project equal distances in opposite directions from the axle. This bar is located centrally between the two wheels. Thus where said wheels are forty-two inches apart the bar will be twenty-one inches from each wheel. The lower end of the dropping-tube is preferably in the same vertical plane with this bar m, so that the hills of corn will be dropped centrally between the wheel-tracks.

The trip or bar on is shown located in the plane which includes the markers projecting from the wheel-rims, and hence the arrangement shown in the drawings will drop two hills of corn at every complete revolution of the axle and wheels; but I do not so wish to limit my invention, and hence do not limit myself to the employment of what is, in effect,

two trips or strikers carried by the axle or to.

Hence planting can be carried on with extreme accuracy in thelocation of the hills and the location of each hill can always be determined.

I do not wish to limit my invention strictly to having, the wheels rigid with the axle, as ratchet mechanisms of any ordinary construction might be employed to always revolve portation without operating the dropping mechanism, I show the rearwardly-extending end of the trip-lever formed with a pivoted toe or finger l to be engaged by the axletrip. This too extends rearwardly in continuation of the trip-lever arm and is pivoted thereto by a cross bolt 0r pivot Z and at its pivoted end is formed with a stop Z to engage the under edge of the trip-lever arm, and hence hold the toe rigid with the triplever when downward pressure is exerted on the toe, but permitting the toe to swing upwardly independently of the trip-lever. When it is desired to move the planter without actuating the trip-lever, it is only necessary to swing said toe upwardly and over onto the trip-lever, and hence out of the path of the axle-trip.

The pivoted toe can ordinarily be held in its normal operative position by a weak wooden pin Z passed through suitable transverse holes in the toe and trip-lever arm. Hence should the planter be moved rearwardly the said pin will break and permit the toe to independently swing up on engagement of the axle-trip with the under edge thereof.

The front caster-wheel adjustment of my planter also involves points of advantage and utility in that the construction permits free rotation or turning of the caster-wheel spindle or standard and also vertical adjustment thereof with respect to the planter-frame. Also the casterwheel frame can be easily applied to and removed from the frame. Re-

ferring to this feature, a is the upright caster-wheel spindle, having the rotatable caster-wheel n mounted in its lower forked end. This spindle extends up beside and to a point above the front end of the planter-*frame and passes freely through and is rotatable in the horizontal ends 0 0 of a vertical plate 0, arranged at the opposite face of the front end of the planter-frame. Suitable pins or stops at n are passed through the spindle 11 above the top end 0 and below the lower end 0 of the plate 0 to confine the spindle therein. The plate 0 is formed with a vertical series of bolt-holes 0", any one of which is adapted to register with a transverse bolt-hole through the frame. 19 is a removable bolt passed through the frame and any one of said holes of plate 0 to hold the plate, and consequently the caster-wheel, in the desired vertical adjustment and locking the caster-wheel device to the planter-frame.

Those skilled in the art will readily understand and appreciate the-advantages of this device.

If desired, any suitable or ordinary fertilizer-distributing mechanism can be applied to the planter; but I do not show the same so applied, as it forms no part of my present invention.

It is evident that various changes might be made in the forms, constructions, and arrangements of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my in vention. Hence I do not wish to limit my self to the exact structure shown.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination, in a planter, a frame, a transverse rotary axle, a pair of drive-wheels thereon, a trip secured to the central portion of said axle between and equal distancesfrom said two wheels, said wheels provided with marker projections extending radially from the peripheries thereof and arranged in fixed relations, substantially as described, with respect to said trip, a seed-hopper having a dropping-tube arranged in the same plane longitudinally of the planter as said trip, whereby the hills are formed between and an equal distance from the paths of the two wheels and the marks made by such projections are on lines between and equal distances from the lines of hills formed by the planter, each mark being immediately opposite a hill, dropping mechanism, and actuat- IIO ing mechanism therefor periodically engaged the same distance from each wheel,each wheel provided with diametrically opposite markerblades projecting radially from the tread thereof, said projections of the two wheels be in gin approximately the same plane including said trip, substantially as described, whereby the relative arrangements and locations of the blades and marker are fixed, for the purposes substantially as stated, a seed-hopper, a dropping tube arranged in the same verticalplane &

longitudinally of the planter as said trip, dropping mechanism, and actuating devices therefor periodically engaged and operated by said trip, substantially as set forth.

3. In a planter, the combination, of a frame, a seed-hopper, a dropping-tube depending therefrom having its lower open end cut off at an angle, an upright dropping-valve fulcrumed between its ends'to swing in a vertical plane and having its lower end arranged at the exterior of said tube to close against said angular open end, whereby when the "alve closes said tube the grain will rest between the inclined face of the valve and a Wall of the tube, a spring-held seed-slide for said hopper, a swinging angle-leverconnected to reciprocate said slide and swing said valve, an axle provided with drive-wheels, and a trip rotating with said axle and arranged to periodically engage and swing said lever, substantially as described. I

4. In combination, in a planter, a frame, a seed hopper, a dropping tube depending therefrom, a reciprocating spring-held seedslide having an end with a socket at the exterior of the hopper, a vertically-swinging angle-lever having its upwardly-projecting end loosely entering said socket, said lever fulcrumed at its angle and having a rearwardly-extending end, a transverse axle having drive-wheels, and a trip secured to said axle and arranged to periodically engage and depress said rearwardly-extending end of said lever to reciprocate said slide against the tension of its spring, substantially as described.

5. In combination, in a planter, a frame, a transverse rotary axle provided with a'trip, a seed-hopper, a dropping-tube, a reciprocating spring-held seed-slide having a projecting end with a slot therethrough, an anglelever fulcrumed at its angle and having an upwardly-projecting end extending loosely into said slot and a rearwardly-projecting portion located in the path of said trip, substantially as described.

6. In combination, in a planter, a frame, a rotary axle having drive-Wheels, a projecting trip rotating with the axle, a seed-hopper, a dropping-tube, a dropping-valve fulcrumed to the tube, a spring-held reciprocating seedslide, a vertically-swinging angle-lever fulcrumed at its angle to the exterior of said tube and having an upwardly-extending arm connected with said slide and with said valve and a rearwardly-extending arm located in the path of said trip, substantially as described.

7. In combination, in a planter, a frame, a rotary axle having drive-wheels and provided with a trip rotating therewith, a seed-hopper, a depending dropping-tube, a dropping-valve fulcrumed between its ends, a reciprocating seed-slide, a spring actuating the same in one direction, an angle-lever fulcrumed to the tube and having one arm connected with said slide and with said valve to operate said parts against the tension of said spring and another arm extending into the path of said trip, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM GRANT BROMLEY.

Witnesses:

W. T. MCLAUGHLIN, J. F. GAMBLE. 

